Tafamidis delays disease progression in patients with early stage transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy: additional supportive analyses from the pivotal trial

<b>Background:</b> Tafamidis, a non-NSAID highly specific transthyretin stabilizer, delayed neurologic disease progression as measured by Neuropathy Impairment Score–Lower Limbs (NIS-LL) in an 18-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in 128 patients with early-stage transthyretin V30M familial amyloid polyneuropathy (ATTRV30M-FAP). The current post hoc analyses aimed to further evaluate the effects of tafamidis in delaying ATTRV30M-FAP progression in this trial. <b>Methods:</b> Pre-specified, repeated-measures analysis of change from baseline in NIS-LL in this trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00409175) was repeated with addition of baseline as covariate and multiple imputation analysis for missing data by treatment group. Change in NIS-LL plus three small-fiber nerve tests (NIS-LL + Σ3) and NIS-LL plus seven nerve tests (NIS-LL + Σ7) were assessed without baseline as covariate. Treatment outcomes over the NIS-LL, Σ3, Σ7, modified body mass index and Norfolk Quality of Life–Diabetic Neuropathy Total Quality of Life Score were also examined using multivariate analysis techniques. <b>Results:</b> Neuropathy progression based on NIS-LL change from baseline to Month 18 remained significantly reduced for tafamidis versus placebo in the baseline-adjusted and multiple imputation analyses. NIS-LL + Σ3 and NIS-LL + Σ7 captured significant treatment group differences. Multivariate analyses provided strong statistical evidence for a superior tafamidis treatment effect. <b>Conclusions:</b> These supportive analyses confirm that tafamidis delays neurologic progression in early-stage ATTRV30M-FAP. <b>Trial registration number:</b> NCT00409175.